1 The UrbanShift project

1.1 Objectives

UrbanShift is a global program that supports cities to adopt integrated approaches to urban development, shaping low-carbon, climate-resilient communities where people and planet both can thrive. The program is funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and jointly managed by a global team consisting of the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), World Resources Institute (WRI), C40 Cities and ICLEI Local Governments for Sustainability. The initiative supports 23 cities across nine countries, providing the knowledge, tools and training they need to transform their urban fabric and shift towards a more sustainable, equitable future.

As one of the key activities to support development of a knowledge-base for the UrbanShift initiative and all participant cities, the WRI data team will work with UrbanShift cities to identify and provide all cities with a common set of critical spatial data layers. using open source, global data. World Resources Institute is providing several types of data-related assistance to participating cities:

  • A suite of key geo-spatial layers
  • Baseline measurements of core UrbanShift indicators
  • Geo-spatial analysis on selected thematic areas
  • Capacity building and technical assistance on data governance and geospatial data as part of the City Academy and Labs modules of UrbanShift.

Outputs will include datasets, indicators and replicable analysis methods relevant to all cities. Additionally, analyses customized to the specific themes of interest for each city will be provided. Finally, an UrbanShift Lab will be delivered for which these data and analyses may act as one input.

1.2 Baseline indicators

To help understand the current status and identify changes of sustainability in UrbanShift cities, we aim to measure key baseline indicators for all cities using comparable approaches. The selected indicators focus on measuring the status and change on the core objectives of the global project, which are aligned with three of Global Environment Facility’s focal areas for its current investment cycle (GEF-7):land degradation, biodiversity, and greenhouse gas emissions.

These assessments are intended to provide information to evaluate patterns within and between cities and to provide contextual information to cities to help them with problem and solution definition. We will disseminate the results to help local governments, the global project team, implementing agencies and national governments to gain a better understanding of the cities’ current status as it relates to sustainability efforts, capacities, main needs and opportunities, and planned investments.

2 Biodiversity

2.1 Context

2.2 Data sources

  • Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF): The Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) is an international network and data infrastructure funded by the world’s governments and aimed at providing anyone, anywhere, open access to data about all types of life on Earth.

  • The World Database on Protected Areas (WDPA): The World Database on Protected Areas (WDPA) is the most comprehensive global database of marine and terrestrial protected areas. It is a joint project between UN Environment Programme and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), and is managed by UN Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC), in collaboration with governments, non-governmental organisations, academia and industry.

  • The Global Invasive Species Database (GISD): The Global Invasive Species Database (GISD) is a free, online searchable source of information about alien and invasive species that negatively impact biodiversity. It focuses on invasive alien species that threaten native biodiversity and natural areas and covers all taxonomic groups from micro-organisms to animals and plants.

2.3 Biodiversity indicators

Indicator name Description Used datasets Years
Number of reported birds Number of reported birds within the administrative boundaries of the selected city (both metropolitan and municipality levels) GBIF, geBoundaries 2020
Number of reported birds by order Number of reported birds broken down by orders within the administrative boundaries of the selected city (both metropolitan and municipality levels) GBIF, geBoundaries 2020
Number of reported birds by family Number of reported birds broken down by family within the administrative boundaries of the selected city (both metropolitan and municipality levels) GBIF, geBoundaries 2020
Number of reported birds by genus Number of reported birds broken down by genus within the administrative boundaries of the selected city (both metropolitan and municipality levels) GBIF, geBoundaries 2020
Percent of protected area For each municipality, percent of land protected as a protected area as defined by IUCN or CBD. WDPA, geBoundaries 2020

3 Case study: San Jose

3.1 Birds

3.1.1 Metropolitan level

  • Location of reported birds:
  • Number of reported birds by order:
  • Number of reported birds by family:
  • Number of reported birds by genus:
genus name Number of species
Thraupis 58
Momotus 50
Zenaida 44
Zonotrichia 39
Turdus 37
Tyrannus 36
Buteo 35
Piranga 31
Pitangus 30
Quiscalus 27
Melanerpes 26
Setophaga 26
Icterus 25
Piaya 24
Columbina 23
Myiozetetes 23
Aratinga 21
Heliodoxa 21
Patagioenas 20
Psilorhinus 20
Saltator 19
Amazilia 18
Psarocolius 18
Ramphastos 18
Volatinia 17
Campylorhynchus 16
Chlorospingus 15
Vireo 15
Euphonia 14
Ortalis 14
Tangara 13
Brotogeris 12
Dryocopus 12
Leiothlypis 12
Melozone 12
Troglodytes 12
Eupherusa 11
Glaucidium 11
Lampornis 11
Pheucticus 11
Campylopterus 10
Microchera 10
Mimus 10
Myioborus 10
Sayornis 10
Cypseloides 9
Eubucco 9
Ramphocelus 9
Semnornis 9
Aulacorhynchus 8
Basileuterus 8
Columba 8
Contopus 8
Discosura 8
Notiochelidon 8
Pionus 8
Cathartes 7
Catharus 7
Colibri 7
Coragyps 7
Crotophaga 7
Falco 7
Herpetotheres 7
Saucerottia 7
Tityra 7
Zentrygon 7
Archilochus 6
Ardea 6
Cardellina 6
Chamaepetes 6
Dendrocygna 6
Milvago 6
Panterpe 6
Pharomachrus 6
Tiaris 6
Anthracothorax 5
Bubulcus 5
Caracara 5
Cyanerpes 5
Dives 5
Eugenes 5
Heliomaster 5
Lepidocolaptes 5
Megarynchus 5
Mitrephanes 5
Myiodynastes 5
Passerina 5
Phainoptila 5
Arremon 4
Butorides 4
Cantorchilus 4
Chaetura 4
Empidonax 4
Passer 4
Phaethornis 4
Pselliophorus 4
Pseudoscops 4
Spinus 4
Thamnophilus 4
Todirostrum 4
Vermivora 4
Amazona 3
Aramides 3
Cinclus 3
Elaenia 3
Megascops 3
Mniotilta 3
Peucaea 3
Protonotaria 3
Pteroglossus 3
Rupornis 3
Seiurus 3
Selasphorus 3
Trogon 3
Anhinga 2
Arremonops 2
Atlapetes 2
Cairina 2
Calliphlox 2
Chloroceryle 2
Chlorophanes 2
Crax 2
Dendrortyx 2
Diglossa 2
Doryfera 2
Geothlypis 2
Glyphorynchus 2
Jacana 2
Margarornis 2
Micrastur 2
Molothrus 2
Myadestes 2
Pachyramphus 2
Premnoplex 2
Ptilogonys 2
Spizaetus 2
Streptoprocne 2
Tapera 2
Tringa 2
Tryngites 2
Vanellus 2
Acanthidops 1
Accipiter 1
Ammodramus 1
Anas 1
Antrostomus 1
Ara 1
Bartramia 1
Campephilus 1
Charadrius 1
Chiroxiphia 1
Chlorophonia 1
Chondrohierax 1
Cistothorus 1
Coccyzus 1
Cochlearius 1
Coereba 1
Colaptes 1
Cynanthus 1
Dumetella 1
Elanoides 1
Elanus 1
Fulica 1
Gampsonyx 1
Grallaria 1
Grallaricula 1
Habia 1
Hylocichla 1
Junco 1
Legatus 1
Leuconotopicus 1
Lophotriccus 1
Megaceryle 1
Mionectes 1
Morococcyx 1
Mycteria 1
Nomonyx 1
Numida 1
Odontophorus 1
Oxyruncus 1
Pandion 1
Petrochelidon 1
Platyrinchus 1
Pulsatrix 1
Riparia 1
Sclerurus 1
Scytalopus 1
Serpophaga 1
Spiza 1
Sporophila 1
Stelgidopteryx 1
Strix 1
Sturnella 1
Syndactyla 1
Thripadectes 1
Tigrisoma 1
Tolmomyias 1
Tyto 1
Xenops 1
Zeledonia 1
Zimmerius 1

3.1.2 Municipality level

3.2 Prrtected areas